Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao

Clean hotel with great breakfast. Perfect for a quick stopover. I didn't have a reservation but they were able to accommodate me. While it's linked to the airport, be aware that you'll need to take the train to get there, and a taxi after hours.

Hotel is nice. Location is convenient, but staff are just chaotic. On two occasions catering team told that buffet service is available, upon sitting then told it was a-la carte… I even asked 3 times the second time. I then went for massage at spa, and had the worst experience ever with spa manager.. first of all she said 880 per hour, 1180 for 1.5. I opted for 2.5, which should be around 2000… she then somehow added other charges equating to 2490. To make things worse she would not take no for a final answer when trying to sell me a package; the massage was good and masseuse pleasant but laying 2490 for a 2.5 hour massage is probably 50% more than I’ve spent in my entire life, and ive been to so many 5* hotels. The package was like 10000 yen, which is like 1220 dollars, she would not take no for an answer despite me saying I want to pay individually, and my card will reject it which was just an excuse on my end to get her to stop, then her response was “oh we can just try anyways”. She probably asked me 15+ times to go for package, it was literally harassment and degraded the expensive, but good massage. Overall the rooms are nice, the gym is good, sauna is good, but spa manager really soured the experience.

This was by far the worst experience I have ever had at a Hilton hotel. Although they advertise swimming facilities for guests, in reality, the small, cramped pool — smaller than even a typical Super 8 — was entirely occupied by five to six swimming instructors conducting lessons with dozens of adults and children. The pool was overcrowded, and the water was murky, containing hair, eyeglasses, wires, and unidentified scraps of paper. When I raised my concerns with the staff, they responded indifferently, stating that “this is just how it is,” as if such conditions were entirely normal. It was unacceptable. I chose not to use any of the hotel’s other services afterward, fearing similar misrepresentation. For instance, the hotel’s restaurant had been rented out to an external company, resulting in an environment louder than a bar, completely unfit for hotel guests seeking a proper dining experience. Overall, the hotel presents a polished image but delivers a deeply disappointing and substandard experience. I would strongly advise others to avoid staying here.